Home Office

Police and Crime Commissioners

Lord Lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what legal requirements exist to ensure that Police and Crime Commissioners answer enquiries made to them.

Lord Lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Police and Crime Commissioners are obligated to meet delegations of members of the House of Lords upon request.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) have a crucial role to play in engaging with the public and partners in their force area to deliver on their priorities to cut crime, including statutory obligations to consult with them on key documents, such as their Police and Crime Plan.The actions and decisions of PCCs are scrutinised by Police and Crime Panels (PCPs) and PCCs must provide information and answer questions raised by their PCP where reasonable and appropriate, in line with their duties in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. Where necessary, PCCs must also respond to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests from the public, in accordance with the FOI Act 2000.There are no legal obligations for PCCs to meet delegations of members of the House of Lords. However, PCCs should be expected to engage constructively with any such requests, in line with their position as directly elected local leaders.

Mike Veale

Lord Lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 18 July (HL Deb col 1756), what is the maximum period beyond which the start of a misconduct hearing cannot be postponed.

Lord Lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government who is the legally qualified chair in charge of the misconduct hearing that is to be convened for Mike Veale, former Chief Constable of Cleveland Police.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Chair of a misconduct hearing must ensure that the hearing commences within 100 working days from the date the officer is served with a notice that they are being referred to a misconduct hearing. The Chair may, in the interests of justice, extend that period. There is no maximum period defined. Arrangements concerning the misconduct hearing for Mike Veale, former Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, are a matter for the Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Cleveland. It is for the PCC to manage any actions arising from it.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government by what process the statement from the 2022 International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief was modified to delete references to “sexual and reproductive health and rights” and “bodily autonomy”.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is committed to defending and promoting universal and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights and will continue working with other countries to protect gender equality in international agreements. In our capacity as Chair of the event, we amended the statement we made at the Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Conference to make the final statement more inclusive of all perspectives and views, to allow for a constructive exchange of views on all issues. The UK continues to fund support and lead on issues of gender including on SRHR, through initiatives related to Women, Peace and Security, and Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.

International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Baroness Whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications of removing references to “sexual and reproductive health and rights” and “bodily autonomy” from the Statement on freedom of religion or belief and gender equality,following the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief on 5 and 6 July.

Baroness Whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the removal of references to “sexual and reproductive health and rights” and “bodily autonomy” from the Statement on freedom of religion or belief and gender equality, whether the original statement can be reinstated.

Baroness Whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government why all references to ”sexual and reproductive health and rights” and ”bodily autonomy” were removed from the Statement on freedom of religion or belief and gender equality, published on 7 July.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is committed to defending and promoting universal and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights and will continue working with other countries to protect gender equality in international agreements. In our capacity as Chair of the event, we amended the statement we made at the Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Conference to make the final statement more inclusive of all perspectives and views to allow for a constructive exchange of views on all issues. The UK continues to fund support and lead on issues of gender including on SRHR, through initiatives related to Women,Peace and Security and Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Correspondence

Lord Rogan: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Ministry of Defence intends to respond to the letter sent byLord Rogan on 17 May.

Baroness Goldie: I replied to the noble Lord's letter on 16 June 2022. A further copy has been despatched in light of this question.

Ministry of Defence: Procurement

Lord Goddard of Stockport: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the (1) proportion, and (2) absolute value, ofMinistry of Defence spend on procurement of goods and services that were denominated in dollars for 2021–22; and what is anticipated for 2022–23.

Baroness Goldie: For financial year (FY) 2021-22, the Departmental spend on the procurement of goods and services in dollars was around USD$5.3 billion, which is approximately 8.4% of the total £46 billion Defence budget. For FY 2022-23, the Department does not routinely release forecast spending figures.

Ukraine: Defence Equipment

Lord Goddard of Stockport: To ask Her Majesty's Government which departmental budget funds the purchases of military equipment from third (1) nations, or (2) parties, for onward supply to Ukraine; and what is the current anticipated spend in 2022–23.

Baroness Goldie: Her Majesty's Treasury are funding all Ukraine associated procurement. The Department does not routinely release forecast spending figures and all spend in the current financial year will be captured and published in the Department's Annual Reports and Accounts in due course.